Senator Risa Hontiveros will seek the assistance of the German Embassy in the Philippines after the Germany-based developer of the mobile game GoreBox declined to participate in the Senate inquiry into the deadly Tacloban City school shooting, where authorities are investigating the possible influence of the game.
Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, said Friday that GoreBox developer Felix Filip informed the committee secretariat through email that he would not attend the July 1 hearing, either in person or through a virtual platform.
The senator said the panel wanted to hear directly from Filip regarding the game’s safety mechanisms, including its age restrictions, content moderation policies, and whether young users could be exposed to harmful online communities or violent behavior while using the platform.
“Nakakadismaya na pinili ni Mr. Filip na huwag dumalo sa darating na hearing namin lalo na’t marami sana akong gustong malaman mula sa kanya mismo,” Hontiveros said.
“My committee remains open to facilitate his attendance and participation in our investigation in case he changes his mind. Hindi dito nagtatapos ang aming pagnanais na marinig siya,” she added.
Filip has identified himself as an independent game developer based in Germany.
Hontiveros said she would seek the assistance of the German Embassy in hopes of facilitating communication with the developer and encouraging his participation in the Senate inquiry.
The investigation follows the June 22 shooting inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that left three students dead and 20 others injured.
Authorities earlier disclosed that one of the minor suspects was an avid GoreBox player.
In response to the incident, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) imposed a temporary ban on GoreBox while authorities continue assessing whether the game or its online environment may have contributed to the tragedy.
Hontiveros clarified that the Senate inquiry is not intended to conclude that a single mobile game caused the shooting, but rather to examine whether online platforms may have influenced or reinforced violent behavior among minors.
“Hindi natin sinasabing isang laro lang ang dahilan ng trahedyang ito. Pero kung may online environment na maaaring naging bahagi ng pagkakalantad ng mga bata sa karahasan, tungkulin nating siyasatin iyon,” she said.
The July 1 hearing is expected to examine the broader circumstances surrounding the shooting.
This includes possible online grooming, radicalization, exposure to violent content, and the normalization of violence among young users, as lawmakers consider whether additional safeguards are needed to better protect children in digital spaces.
Photo courtesy of Inquirer.net
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